Electric-light socket.



L. W. FFHEDEL.

ELECTRIC LIGHT SOCKET. APPLICATION FILED APH. 5. 1911.

I L259,6l2 PamntedMar. 19,1918.

A A Y j l nass IOWA, ASSIGNOR TO EDWARD T. FLICK OF COLUMBIA.

.ELECTRIC-LIGHT SOCKET.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Fatented Mar. i9, 19118.

Application led April v5, 1917. Serial No. 160,044.

To all whom 'it may concern:

tain new and useful Improvements in Electric-Light Sockets; and li do hereby declare the following to beI a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

rihis invention relates to electric apparatus, and more particularly to an electric iightl bulb socket adaptable for attachment` to panel members of various types, such, for instance, as for use in connection with the lamp receiving boxesor structures of electric signs.

It is one of the objects of the present invention to provide an electric lamp socket which may be readily attached to and dismounted from the front and side members of electric signs Without requiring Athe dis mantling of the sign structure, and which socket may be applied to and secured upon the panel member of the sign by application through the front of the member into the usual aperture provided therein to receive the socket and thus eliminates the requirement for the operator during the mounting of the lamp socket to reach in behind or have access to the rear of the panel member upon which the socket or sockets are to be arranged.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple, practicable and inexpensive device whereby the lamp receptacle may be rested in suitable posit1on uponthe front face of a signibearing structure or support, and to provlde means whereby the rear surface of the support may be engaged, said means being operable from a. position in front of the receptacle and support to be caused to engage and disengagethe latter.

With these and other objects in view the present invention consists of a lamp receptacle having means adapted to engage an apertured support .or panelv upon which the lamp receptacle may be mounted by inserL tion through the front of the support.

In the following specification there is described, and in the accompanyi g drawings there is illustrated, one form of the invention,fin which drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved receptacle and its fastening device.

Fig. 2 shows the receptacle as mounted upon a portion of a panel or support with the parts ready to be interlocked, showing the receptacle in section and the locking device in elevation.

Fig. 3 is a similar sectional view showing the receptacle as in locked position upon the support and omitting the wiring and interior contact members of the receptacle.

In the embodiment of the invention herein shown 2 represents a receptacle of porcelain or other suitable non-conducting material which kis shown as in the form of a cylinder of suitable proportions having at its front or outer end an annular flange 3 adapted to seat upon the outer surface of any suitable panel or support P which may, for instance,`form a portion of an electric sign. It is one of the particular features of the present invention to provide a receptacle which may be mounted upon the outside of a sign or panel member w1thout requiring access to the rear side of the sign and withl out necessitating the removal ofthe sign member in order to provide for the mounting of the receptacle. To that end the receptacle 2 is shown as provided on opposite sides with channels 4 which are countersu at their front ends, as at 5, and provided with outwardly inclined cam-like surfaces 6 adjacent to the rear surface of the ilange 3. Seated in these opposite longitudinally extending grooves 4 is. a flexible arm 7, the front end of which is shown as provided with an inwardly bent toe portion 8, the ends of which iiare or are directed out- Wardly and rest normally vin contracted position within the countersunk portion 5 and within the cam surfaces 6. In the present form of the invention the locking arms are shown as integrally connected to the form of a U member having a transverse tie portion 10 extending across the rear or inner end of the receptacle at a suitable din tance therefrom, and the transverse portion 10 isthreaded to receive a screw 11 which passes through a suitable aperture provided therefor in the base of the receptacle 2, the

head 12 of the screw resting on a depressed seat in the base of the receptacle.

In the normal contracted position of the locking arms 7 they lie substantially Hush .in the channels 4 of the receptacle 2, and the latter may be passed freely inwardly through an aperture inthe panel or sign member P from the front of the latter.

s soon` as theflange 3 seats upon the panei or support P the operator may then turn the screw l1 so as to draw the U-shaped locking device forwardly along the body of the receptacle, the cam surfaces 6 thereof reacting on the toes of the spring arms and causing these latter to be deflected outwardly into locking engagement with the rear surface of the panel or supporting member l). When it is desired to remove titi the receptacle it is only necessary to again turn the screw ll in the reverse direction so as to cause the rear shifting or sliding movement of the fastening device along the receptacle so as to permit the locking toes to again contact in concealed or withdrawn position into the countersunk portions 8 at the ends of the slots 4 of the receptacle to bring the ends of the toes 5 within the circle of the cylinder so that the latter can vbe withdrawn through the aperture from the panel P. y

The'wiring oi' the socket may be accomplished in any suitable manner and electrical contact made with an inserted bulb as desired. ln this embodiment of the invention the chamber of the receptacle 2 is provided with a threaded shell 15, the base of which is secured upon the base of the receptacle .2 by suitable screws 15, 'one of which is shown as secured to a contact screw 16 tor binding the conducting wire 17 to the shell 15. The base ot the receptacle is also provided with an interior washer or contact plate 17a which is held .in place by respective screws 17?, one of which is adapted to bind a return wire 18 in suitable connection so as to provide for a complete circuit through an inserted electric bulb. ln installing one of the receptacles in place upon the panel member the various feed wires 17 and i8 may be lished up through the sign box and out of the aperture at which it is designed to mount the receptacle, and the wires respectively' connected to their contact members on the receptacle. Thereafter the wires are drawn or pushed into the receptacle and the flange 3 thereof seated upon lthe front of the panel P, and the '..tasteningV screw 1l operated to secure the locking oit the receptacle in place 'through means of the locking arms 7.

"What l claim is: f

l. .el lamp lsocket adapted to seat against the tace ci an apertured support, laterallyy expansible means arranged on the socket to secure it on the support, and a device operable trom the :trent of the socket to shift saidmeans rearwardly without disconnecting it from the socket to disengage the suport. p 2. A lamp soclret attachable to the face ot an apertured support, and yieldable means expansible by relative movement of the socket for securing the socket in osition theream4 and 'which is operable om tenacia the trent of the socket to be engaged with 4. A lamp socket having a rece tacle in-` sertible into an aperture therefor y application to the front of an apertured support, expansive means. slidably mounted on the receptacle for locking engagement with the rear surface ot the support, and means operative trom the front of the receptacle :lor adjusting the loclring means.

5. A lamp socket having a receptacle insertible into an aperture therefor by application to the 'front of an aperture-d support, slidable, expansive, resilient means on the receptacle for locking engagement with the rear surface oth the support, means opera-- tive from the liront of the receptacle 'for adjusting the locking means, and means tor expanding said means.

6. A lamp socket adapted to be mounted upon a support by application 'to the :trent thereof, and a spring slidably connected to the socket and engageable with the rear of the support and operable, from the iront of the support, to engaging or disengaging position with the back of the supportu 7. A lamp socket for application to an apertured support, including a receptacle adapted to enter the support aperture from the front and having a 'front flange to seat upon the support, means slidably mounted on the exterior ot the receptacle .and adaptedto be expanded by relative sliding movement of the parts into locking engagement with the bach of the support.

8. fl. lamp soclre't for application to an aperturedsupport, including a receptacle adapted to enter the support aperture from the front and having a iront flange to seat upon the support, a spring slidably mounted on the exterior of the receptacle and adapted to be expanded into locking engagement with the back of the support, and means, operable trom the iront of the inserted receptacle, to actuate the sliding part.

9. An electric lamp socket adapted to be applied and'loclred to an apertured support by manipulation at the front thereof, comprising a iianged receptacle, a pair of yieldingly connected arms slidably mounted on the exterior of the body of the receptacle, and means on the receptacle 'for expanding the arms into. locking engagement with the rear of. the support upon relative movement of one. as to the other..

l0. An electric lamp socket adapted' tube liti applied and locked to an apertured support of the support upon relative movement oi by manipulation at the front thereof, comone as to the other, and a device engageable prising a flanged receptacle, a pair of yieldfrom the front of the applied receptacle for 10 ingly connected arms slidably mounted on relatively longitudinally moving the arms 5 the exterior or the body of the receptacle, and receptacle.

means on the receptacle for expanding the In testimony whereof l aiix my signature. arms into locking engagement with the rear LESLE WILLAM FRIEDEL. 

